Companion App - Install the OwnPay Android SMS Tracker

The OwnPay Companion App is a secure Android application that runs in the background of your dedicated gateway phones. It monitors incoming wallet transfer messages and forwards them in real-time to your OwnPay server for instant verification and transaction approval.

Download Latest Release

Get the official companion app APK directly from the GitHub releases page.

Prerequisites

Before setting up the companion app, ensure you have:

A physical Android device (Android 8.0 or higher recommended).
An active Internet connection on the phone.
Admin access to your OwnPay dashboard.

Setup Walkthrough

Follow these steps to install and securely pair your companion app with your brand portal.

Download and install the App

Navigate to GitHub Releases on your mobile device.
Download the latest .apk file.
Open the downloaded file to begin installation. If prompted by your browser, enable Install from unknown sources.

Generate a pairing code in Admin Panel

Log in to your OwnPay Admin Dashboard.
In the sidebar menu, select All Brand or your specific brand context.
Under the MOBILE & SMS group in the left sidebar, click Paired Devices.
Click the + Pair New Device button.
Click Generate Pairing Code. The admin panel will generate a secure QR code and a temporary 6-digit alphanumeric pairing code (valid for 5 minutes).

Connect the App to your Server

Open the OwnPay Companion App on your Android device and choose one of the following connection methods:

Option A: Scan QR Code (Recommended)
Option B: Manual Connection

In the companion app, tap Scan QR Code.
Grant camera permissions if requested.
Align your phone’s camera with the QR code displayed on your Admin Dashboard screen.
The app will automatically read the configuration and connect.

In the companion app, tap Manual Setup or Log in with Code.
Enter your server’s base URL (e.g., https://demo.ownpay.org).
Enter the active 6-Digit Pairing Code shown in the dashboard.
Tap Connect.

Confirm status and authorize permissions

Once paired, the app will ask for permission to read and forward SMS. Tap Allow.
Verify that the app’s status indicator changes to Connected.
Check your Admin Dashboard’s Connected Devices table. Your device will now appear with an active status.

Important Configuration

Exclude App from Battery Optimization Android aggressive battery savers will kill background processes if the screen is off. To ensure reliable, real-time payment notifications:

Go to the phone’s Settings > Apps > OwnPay.
Select Battery or App battery usage.
Set the optimization to Unrestricted (allow background battery usage without restrictions).

Permissions Checklist For the app to work, it requires the following active permissions:

SMS / Read SMS: To intercept incoming mobile banking transfer notifications.
Background execution: To keep listening while the phone is locked.
Autostart / Run at Boot (on Chinese ROMs like Xiaomi, Oppo, Vivo): To automatically launch if the phone is rebooted.

Troubleshooting

Symptom	Cause	Fix
App shows “Disconnected”	Battery optimization killed the background service	Disable battery optimization for OwnPay (see above)
Pairing code expired	Code is valid for 5 minutes only	Generate a new pairing code from the admin dashboard
SMS not forwarding	SMS/Read SMS permission not granted	Go to phone Settings > Apps > OwnPay > Permissions and enable SMS
App crashes on boot	Outdated Android version or insufficient RAM	Update to Android 8.0+ and close other background apps
QR code scan fails	Camera permission denied or poor lighting	Grant camera permission and ensure the QR code is fully visible

Paired Devices - Manage connected mobile devices in the admin dashboard
SMS Templates - Configure how incoming SMS messages are parsed
SMS Logs - View forwarded SMS messages and verification results

Download Latest Release

​Prerequisites

​Setup Walkthrough

​Important Configuration

​Troubleshooting

​Related pages

Prerequisites

Setup Walkthrough

Important Configuration

Troubleshooting

Related pages